Washing machine



Oct. 20, 1942. K, D. MCMAHAN 2,299,554

WASHING MACHINE Inventor Kenton D Mc Mahan,

bg my?? am Oct. zo, 1942.

K, D. MCMAHAN WASHING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1940 -3 Sllee'cs-Sheetl 2 Oct. 20, 1942. K. D. MCMAHAN 2,299,554

l WASHING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1940` s sheets-smet s Figi Inventor: i

" vKenton D.,Mc Mahan,

Y 1 I by His Attorney.

Patented Ooit.v 20, 1942 WASHING MACHINE Y Kenton D. McMahan, Scotia, N. Y., assigner to General Electric Comp New York any, a corporation of Application June 29, 1940, serial No. :43,2711 (ci. es-as) 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to washing machines havingan oscillatory or reciprocatory agitating element for agitating the liquid and clothes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction in washing machines of this type, and for a consideration of lwhat I be'- on line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the agitator 'of the modiiication; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. '1 is a sectional elevation of another modification in which the agitating element is reciprocated vertically; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on`line 8 8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the driving mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a washing machine having a tub I supported at its outer edge on a rubber bead 2 on the upper edge of a skirt 3 to which are ilxed supporting legs I. Fixed to the skirt v3 is a gear casing 5 having an agitator post E projecting upward through a central opening in the bottom of the tub I and having awringer post'1 extending upward along the outside of the tub. Suitable mechanism is provided in the gear casing for oscillating an agitator shaft 3 and for rotating a wringer drive shaft (not shown) extending through the wringer post 1. Such mechanism is well known, andan illustration is not required. The bottom of the tub is clamped between a flange 8 on the agitator post and a nut III threaded on the agitator post, suitable gaskets II being arranged on either side of the bottom wall of the tube to prevent leakage.

The agitator shaft 8 is Journaled in a bearing I2 in the upper end of -the agitator post 6. The upper end of the agitator shaft l projects above the agitator post and has fixed thereto a drive nut I3 fitting within a socket Il in the upper end of an agitator sleeve I5. The agitator sleeve depends around the agitator post 6 and has iixed in its lower end a guide sleeve Ii journaled on a bearing I1 fixed to the agitator post. 'At the low er end of the sleeve I5 is fixed a disk I8 spaced above the bottom of the tub. The disk Il comprises an annular imperforate portion I 8 adjacent the sleeve I5 and outer segmental perforated '21 are iixed to the flanges 2l.

greater part oi the area of the segmental sections. The outer edges of the sections 20 are provided with downwardly extending Viianges 2i adjacent the side walls of the tub. The radial edges of the segmental sections 2li are beaded as indicated at 22, and adjacent edges are spaced apartto provide radial slots 23. Fixed to the under side of the disk Il are a depending circular vane 24 at the outer edge of the imperforate annular portion I$.and arcuate vanes 25 depending from the segmental sections 20 intermediate the vane 2Ivand the flangesA 2|. The vanes or bailies 25 are for the VPurpose of` preventing radially outward iiovv of' liquid beneath the disk I8 during oscillation of the agitator. Midway between the edges of the radial slots 23 are radial vanes 25 having walls 21 flaring downward and outward from the apexes of the vanes toward the bottom of the tub. I'he inner ends of the walls 21 are fixed to the baille 24. The outer ends of the walls Midway between the ends, the walls 21 are secured to the baiiies provide passages 28 and 29 on opposite sides thereof. These passages have an area which is substantially smaller than the areaI of the perforations in the adjacent segmental sections 20. The liquid flowing through the passages 28 or 29 Aaccordingly has a higher velocity than the liquid iiowing through the perforations.

When the agitator is being oscillated in the direction of the arrow 30 of Fig. 3, a high velocity jet of liquid is forced outward in the direction of the arrows 3I through the passage 2l between the leading or front face ofthe vane 26 as regards the direction of movement of the agitator and the adjacent edge of the slot. To take the place of the liquid discharged in this iet, liquid is drawn downward through the perforations 32 in front of the vane 26 as regards the direction of rotation, as indicated by the arrows 33. This liquid produces Va suction drawing the clothes againstthe segmental section in front of the vane 26 as regards the direction of movement of the agitator. The jet discharged through the passage 28 has an injector action on the passage 29 between the trailing face of the vane 26 and the adjacent edge of the slot, which passage is behind the vane 26 as regards the direction oi' movement of the agitator. 'I'he passages 23 and 2l are so related'that this injector action produces a suction in the passage 29 preventing inward movement of the liquid. In Fig. 3 only one of the vanes 26 is illustrated. The Y.

sections 1 20. 'Ihe perforations comprise the 55 vane to the left of the vane illustrated would produce a suction through the perforations 34, causing a ow of liquid indicated by the arrows 35. This suction would likewise tend to produce an inward flow through the passage 28, which flow is, however, blocked by the` injector action of the jet discharged through the passage 28. The injector action results from the fact that the passages 28 and 28 intersect in that a jet flowing the outer and inner ends of which are bounded respectively by the ears 43 and by anges 5| integral with and depending from adjacent ends of the iianges 40. The slots 50 occupy only the outer portion of the agitator. If the length of the slots is decreased so the slots occupy only the extreme outer portion of the agitator, the rib 45 may be omitted since there will then be substantially no tendency for radial outward flow in the slots 50. Intermediate the sides of the slots 5l) are radial vanes 52 having sides 53 integral with the disk 44. The upper ends of thev vanes 52 project slightly above the slots 50 and provide passages 54 and 55 on each side of The -flow through the perforations is, however, al-

ways inward, regardless of the direction of movement of the agitator.

During the oscillation ofthe agitator, clothes are accordingly always sucked down against the perforated sections and, while held by suction against these surfaces, are subjected to a scrubbing action due to the forcible oscillation or reciprocation of the agitator relative to the liquid in the tub. At the slots 23 and in front of the vanes 2B as regards the direction of movement of the agitator, are upwardly directed jets of liquid which are directed tangentially over the perforated section behind the vanes 26 and tend to remove the clothes therefrom. The jets also produce a circulation of the clothes in vertical planes perpendicular to the length of the slots 23. This circulation produces a turnover of the clothes so that all parts thereof are brought into contact with the perforated reciprocatory rubbing surfaces 20.

, In Figs. 4 to 6 is shown a modified form of agitator used in a machine ofthe previously described construction, corresponding parts being indicated by the same reference numerals. The agitator comprises a tubular portion 3B in the upper end of which is xed a casting 31 having a socket therein receiving the drive nut I3 on the upper end of the agitator shaft 8. The tubular portion 36 depends around the agitator post 6 flaring downward and outward toward the bottoml of the tub to provide a frusto-conical portion 38 which terminates adjacent the bottom of the tub in a downwardly extending flange 39. Within the frusto-conical portion 38 are arcuate flanges 40 carrying at their lower ends a sleeve bearing 4I journaled at 42 on the agitator post 5. Depending from the under side of the frusto-conical portion 38are integral ears 43 to which is secured -a disk 44 closing thebottom of the agitator. Integral with the upper side of the disk 44 is a circular rib 45 which, like the flange 25 of the previously described construction, prevents radially outward movement of the liquid in vthe space between the disk and the lower side of 'the frusto-conical portion 38. The disk is provided with an opening 46 loosely surrounding the agitator post. Around the edges of the opening 45- the disk is in contact with the bearing 42 'and with the lower edges of the flanges 40. As shown in Fig. 5, the frusta-conical portion 3B is provided with three segmental sections 41 each of which is provided with a series of parallel ribs 48 extending inward from the outer periphery and between which are parallelrows of perforations 49. Between thesegmental sections 41 are radialslots 50 the'sides of which are bounded by'.

l forations 58 and 59.

the vanes.

The operation of the agitator is much like that of the previously described construction. When the agitator is moving in the direction of thev arrow 56, jets of liquid are discharged in the direction indicated bythe arrow 51 through the passages 54 in front of the vanes as regards the direction of movement of the agitator. At the Kas regards the direction of movement of the agitator. The jet discharged through the passage 54 has an injector action which prevents inward flow through the passage 55. When the direction of movement of the agitator is reversed,'an outward Jet is discharged through the passage 55 and liquid continues to flow inward through the per- Since liquid always moves inward through the perforations, the clothes are drawn against the perforations and subjected to a scrubbing action by the ribs 48 and the edges of the perforations.' Since the agitator is positively oscillated, therewill be some slippage between the clothes and the perforated sections of the agitator and some of the clothes will move over the slots 52. These clothes will come under the iniiuence of the jets discharged upwardly through the slots and .will be lifted oi the perforated sections of the agitator and moved upward by the liquid currents. The jets discharged throughthe slots 50 accordingly have the dual function of producing a circulation of the clothes within the tub and of moving the clothes out of contact with the perforated sections of the'agitator so that other clothes can be brought against the perforated sections and subjected to aA scrubbing action. The frusto-conical portions 38 of the agitator have a steeply tapered portion 60 adjacent the agitator shaft. This steeply tapered portion causes the clothes to slide toward the outer edges of the agitator and prevents tangling of the clothes at the center of the tub. The jets discharged upwardly through the slots 50 have a velocity increasing with the distance from the centerl of the agitator. There is accordingly a generally upward circulation along the side walls of-the tub and a downward circulation at the center of the tub. 'This circulation will be accentuated if the slots 5l)` are ,only in the extreme outer part ofthe agitator. The circulation proadjacent edges of the segmental sectionsand duced by the agitator is therefore of two kinds: a circulation about radial axes due to the jets discharged through the slots 50 and a circulation in radial planes around the agitator due to the greater upward lflow and higher velocity of the jets .at the outer part of the slots 50.

In Figs. 'l to 9 is shown a modified form of agitator which is reciprocated vertically by means of a shaft il extending up through the agitator post l of the previously describedmachine. As

shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9, the shaft il reciprocated by an eccentric 62 `rotated by a driving shaft i3 and fitting in a cross head M integral with the shaft 8|. 'I'he agitator, which is xed to the upper end ofthe shaft ll in a manner not shown, comprises outer perforate cylindrical sections i5 and 66 and an inner imperforate cylindrical section 61. As shown in Figs. 'I and .8, the inner and o'uter cylindrical sections are secured together by radial ribs 8l. The upper end of the agitator is closed by a disk ri; surface presented toward the clothes, there being in said surface perforatios through which fliquld ilows inwardly into the interior of the $9. The lower Vend of the agitator is closed by agitator and a slot through which high speed jets are discharged outwardly from the interior of the agitator. The area through which the inward flow takes place is greater than the area of the slot. In all forms of the invention the clothes are drawn against the rubbing surface by the inward ilow of liquid and are there subjected to a rubbing or scrubbing action. The clothes are removed from the rubbing surface by the outwardly flowing jets which may have the additional function of causing circulation of the clotheswithinthe tub so all parts of the clothes will be in turn brought under the action of the agitator.

What I claim as.new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:v

1. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, a submerged reciprocatory agitator therein .having a rubbing surface presented to the the edges of this slot is a vane. internal with 1 the inner cylindrical section 61. The vane has arcuate side walls 16 which merge into the vertical walls of the cylindrical section 61. The adiacent ends of the perforated sections i5 and 88 are provided with correspondingly curved portions 11.

In use, the agitator is reciprocated vertically at a high speed and through a short stroke by the vertical shaft tl. When the agitator is moved upward, a jet of fluid is discharged radially 'through the passage between the upper side of the vane l15 and the lower end of the cylindrical leading face of the vane directing a stream of section 86 in the direction indicated by the arrow 1I. As in the previously described constructions, this jet blocks or prevents inward flow of liquid lthrough the passage on the lower side of the vane lfluid discharged outwardly through the intersecting passages through the slot Il on each side of the vane 1I. 'I'he net result is that clothes are drawn inward at the top and the bottom of the tub against the rapidly reciprocating perforated sections and are forced outward at the center of the tub by radial iets. Due to the high speed of reciprocation of the agitator' relative to the liquid, there will be some slippage between the clothes and the perforated sections which results in a rubbing or scrubbing action on the clothes.'

Upon reaching the slot 14 the clothes will be forcibly removed from the perforated sections by the high speed Jets continually discharged through the slot.` During operation, the agitator causes considerable turbulence in the washing liquid. However since liquid is continually be;

ing discharged in a radial direction fromthe center ofthe agitator and at the same time is being drawn radially inward toward the agitator at the top and at the bottom of ,the tub, there is a circulation or turnover of the clothes in radial planes surrounding the agitator in the general direction indicated by the arrows I0 and Il.

In`-`allof the constructions there is a hollow asimmnsviag s rapidly reciprocsd musing clothes, means for reciprocating said surface relative to the liquid in the tub, a slot in said surface transverse to the direction of movement of said surface, a vane on the agitator intermediate the edges of the slot and inward of said surface, the leading and trailing faces of the vane defining with the adjacent edges of the slot passages respectively in front of and behind the vane as regards the direction of movement of the vane, said liquid from the passage in front of the vane over said rubbing surface and transverse to thepassage behind the vane as regards the direction of movement of the vane, Openinss through said rubbing surface, and passages inward of the rubhing surface leading from said openings to said passages in front of and behind said vane.

2. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, an agitator therein having a submerged reciprocatory rubbing surface presented toward the clothes. a slot in said surface transverse to the direction of reciprocatlon, openings in said surface on each side of said slot, and a vane beneath said surface intermediate the edges of said slot and defining therewith passages respectively in front of and behind the vane as regards theV direction of movement of the agitator, said vane serving to discharge a jet of liquid outward through the passage in front of the vane as regards the direction of movement of the agitator,

said jet being discharged acro the other passage and having an injector action thereon preventing inward flow through said other passage.

3. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, an agitator therein having a submergedreciprocatory rubbing surface, a slot in said surface transverse to the direction of` reciprocatlon, openings in said surface on each side-of said slot, a

vane beneath said surface intermediate the edges of the slot and defining therewith passages respectively in front oi and behind the vane as rethe direction of movement of the agitator tub, an mitator VEthrough `which liquid is unidirectionally disvvcharged vduring reciprocation of the agitator whereby liquid is drawn in through said openings.

4. In a machine, a vliquid receiving oscillatable onv a vertical axis and having a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub, means providing a space beneath said disk substantially-closed at the bottom and at 'the outer edges, a' radial slot in said disk, and perforations in said disk intermediate saidA slots.

5. In a washing machine, a'liquid receiving'y tub, an agitator oscillatable on a vertical axis and having a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub, means providing a space beneath said disk substantially closed at the bottom and at the outer edges,- a radial slot in said disk, perforatipns in said disk on each side or said slot, a

radial vane in. said space and intermediate the edges of said slot,` said vane cooperating with the edges of the slots to denne passages respectively in front of and behind the vanes as regards the direction of movement of the disk, the passages in front ofthe vanes serving to direct liquid over the passages behind the vanes, and

means for oscillating the agitator.

6. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, an agitator oscillatable on a vertical axis and having a disk adjacent the bottom of the tub,

means providing aspace beneath saiddisk substantially closed at the bottom and at the outer edges, a radial slot in said disk, perforations in said disk on each side of said slot, a radial vane in said space beneath the slots, defining with the edges of the slot passages through which liquid is unidirectionally discharged during oscillation of the agitator and means for oscillating the agineath said disk closed at the top and bottom and at the inner and outer edges, openings in said disk intermediate said slots, and a vane beneath the disk intermediate the edges of the slot.

9. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, a vertically reciprocable hollow agitator, a horizontal slot in the outer surface of the agitator, perforations in the agitator above and below the slot. and a vane within the agitator inter-mediate the edges of the slot.

10. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, a vertically reciprocable hollow agitator, a

discharge opening from the interior ofthe agitator intermediate the upper and lower ends, intake openings to the interior of the agitator above and below said discharge opening, means within the agitator for drawing liquid unidirectionally in through said intake openings and for discharging liquid unidirectionally out through said discharge opening,`and means forreciprocating said agitator.

11. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, a vertically reciprocable agitator comprising vertical inner and outer cylindricalparts, said outer cylindrical parts being perforated and providing a horizontal slot intermediate the upper and lower ends of the agitator communicating with the space between the inner and outer cylindrical parts, and a vane in the space between the inner and outer cylindrical parts cooperating with the edges of the slot to provide intersecting passages.

12. In a washing machine, a liquid receiving tub, an agitator therein having a submerged perforated reciprocatory rubbing surface presented to the clothes, means for reciprocating said surface relative to the liquid in the tub, means for drawing liquid continuously inward through said i surface whereby the clothes are drawn against the surface and for forcing jets of liquid across said surface tending to remove the clothes from said surface.

KENTON D. MCMAHAN. 

